Ed Sheeran Tears Up at First Performance After Controversy: "I Was Afraid to Throw Something on Stage" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Pop star Ed Sheeran shed tears as he took the stage for the first time after Mac Miller and other opening artists withdrew from the tour.

According to PEOPLE and other local media, Ed Sheeran told the audience at a concert held in Philadelphia, United States, on the 19th (local time), "I had to make a difficult decision, and I am making mistakes while making several decisions. I am truly, truly sorry."

He added, "I did not want to disappoint my fans, and I have never wanted to become an activist musician," while also revealing that "this incident has placed me in the midst of a significant and intense debate over freedom of expression and one of the most complex political issues on Earth."

He also said, "Usually, I go to the B stage, but honestly, I had no idea what kind of atmosphere the audience would be in tonight," adding, "I thought they might throw something at me."

He added, "The past week was one of the worst weeks of my life. I really didn't know if this tour could continue. I didn't even know if I would be able to stand on stage again or if I wanted to continue living as an artist at all. When such a situation arises, you learn who your true friends are. Everyone told me to cancel the tour, and it felt like my friends, family, and everyone I knew were leaving me. But when I looked back at the end of that week, I saw 50,000 people who did not leave me."

He also directly addressed the issue of Israel and Palestine. Ed Sheeran said, "This is a humanitarian issue, and I can no longer hide how I feel," adding, "What happened at the Israel Nova music festival on October 7 was terrible and further intensified centuries of Jewish suffering."

He also stated that "what is happening in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate."

He added, "My heart broke at the scale of immense destruction and the sacrifice of civilian lives, especially children's," and noted that "the structural injustices unfolding in the West Bank cannot be ignored."

It was also revealed that Ed Sheeran is in talks with people from various perspectives on how he can contribute to helping the victims.

Ed Sheeran has recently found himself at the center of controversy over being excluded from the opening slot of Machine Gun Kelly's tour.

McComore was excluded as an opening artist for the remaining dates of Ed Sheeran's "Loop Tour" after making remarks regarding the Israel-Palestine issue during a performance at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on the 4th.

According to reports, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, AT&T Stadium in Texas, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa have reportedly requested the exclusion of Mac McMor's stage.

Originally, MacMor was scheduled to perform on the opening stage eight more times during Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour. However, after MacMor was excluded, Finneas, Lucas Graham, Aaron Lo, and Beoga, Ed Sheeran's live backing band, also withdrew from the tour one after another.

Ed Sheeran previously issued a statement on the 15th clarifying that his exclusion from Maclemore's tour was not his decision.

He stated, "McComer's tour contract was not with me but with the promoter," adding, "I did not want to disappoint fans who had already made plans, and I could not abandon tour staff, other opening artists, and musicians who rely on me for their livelihood."

Robert Kraft then issued a statement through People, saying he did not want to provide a platform for hate speech.

He explained that he raised concerns about MacMor's recent activities, content shared on stage, and a history of anti-Semitic expressions and images that the group deemed highly insulting and hurtful to the Jewish community.

McCamor later announced that he would donate the net income he earned from his tour to six organizations supporting Palestine, stating, "Writing a check is one of the least costly ways I can show solidarity. I am doing it because I can, and while the world debates, these organizations are actually getting things done."

He also emphasized, "However, support alone cannot resolve the very conditions that necessitate such support. This is an injustice created by humans, and I believe immediate political change is required."

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*This content was translated by AI.